Raphael Assuncao vs Francisco Rivera latest bout added to UFC 170
Following two straight knockouts in the UFC, Francisco Rivera will get a chance to prove if he's a top ten fighter or not as he takes on No. 4 ranked bantamweight Raphael Assuncao at UFC 170 in February.
UFC officials announced the fight on Wednesday.
Rivera (10-2, 1 NC)was cut from the UFC after a 2011 loss to Reuben Duran at The Ultimate Fighter 13 finale, but just two fights and two knockouts later he was back in the Octagon, a much improved fighter.
Undefeated since coming back, Rivera most recently scorched fellow bantamweight George Roop with a knockout at the UFC Fight for the Troops show at Fort Campbell, Kentucky and now he's earned his toughest test in the Octagon to date.
Raphael Assuncao (21-4) has found new life at bantamweight and will certainly stand as a stiff test to Rivera come February. A former featherweight talent, Assuncao dropped to 135 pounds in 2011 and remains undefeated with a perfect 5-0 record in the division.
Assuncao most recently defeated TJ Dillashaw at UFC Fight Night in Brazil to solidify his ranking as a top five bantamweight in the world.
As he starts inching closer to title contention in 2014,
Assuncao will first have to go through Rivera in a fight that
should produce fireworks on the UFC 170 fight card.
